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Project Progress

Former MultiGrid prototypes developed in collaboration between France (ILL) and Sweden (ESS and Linkoping University) have shown their great potential to replace 3He-based detectors. However, one strong limitation of this technique comes from the mechanical constraints on the pressure vessel when the detector, filled with 1 bar, is operated in vacuum, as required for most of the Time-Of-Flight instruments.

In the closing years of the 18th century, the D’Elhuyar brothers identified the 74th element on the Periodic Table, symbolised by the letter W for Wolfram after the implementation of a doctrine they learned in Uppsala, Sweden. Little did they imagine back then that this material would be returning to the alma mater academic studies country, to provide the heart of one of the most important science and technology facilities of the 21st century, the European Spallation Source.

Building a world-leading research facility as large and advanced as the ESS requires a high level of standardisation for the involved parties to collaborate as successfully as possible. Having many experienced partners on board, the ESS Central Engineering Team has a unique pool of best practice experience to draw from.

Data Management will be a vital component in handling the neutron test results, when the European Spallation Source goes into operation. The DMSC will not only bring project partners closer together. The Centre also aims to set new standards for using computers in neutron research.

Detector Development. The ESS suite of instruments will require state-of-the-art neutron detectors with extended performance to fully utilise the source beam. Through the European-Union funded BrightnESS project, scientists at ESS and its partner institutions aim to realise detectors that can capture and record the high neutron rates delivered by the world’s most powerful neutron source.

Detectors for ESS.The first attempts to use boron-10 for neutron detection were made in the 1970s. Due to the high neutron flux expected at ESS and the economics of the helium-3 crisis, boron is experiencing a comeback. EU support through the BrightnESS project is delivering critical results for the development of such detectors at the European Spallation Source.